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To the editor:
I recently received a letter from a worthy organization that I have given to: Armed Services YMCA. It occurred to me that if our government treated our armed service members decently, this organization would not be needed.
With a "defense" budget in the one trillion-dollar range, how is it that our troops and their families are not provided with adequate food, housing, child and after-school care?
More astonishing, this organization has been around for 165 years. That means presidents going back to Abraham Lincoln have not provided adequately for those whose job is "supposed" to be defending us.
I say "supposed" because though they join the military for that purpose, they are often used for offensive purposes instead. Iran is only the latest example.
In future presidential elections, we should press for candidates who will provide for our soldiers, sailors and pilots while not using them for unjust reasons.
Richard Warren
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1joelschwartz
Richard I completely agree. It is an utter disgrace that any veteran has to put up a Go Fund Me page to help with service connected injuries. Tunnel to Towers, which does great work, also should not have to exist. Now that cheap drones and relatively cheap missiles have made aircraft carriers, destroyers, and fixed military bases obsolete, maybe we can take some of that money and build housing for homeless veterans. The military industrial complex no doubt will strongly object, but it's time our government did its job when it comes to veterans.
Thursday, August 20 Report this
reenjoe
It seems that, regardless of the cost, Congress funds every new weapons system while claiming we can't afford veteran's support programs. It took twenty years before Clinton extended VA services to Vietnam vets harmed by Agent Orange and nearly 20 to 40 years before Biden covered those poisoned by burn pits in Operation Desert Storm and Marines and their families poisoned by tainted water at Camp Lejeune.
I would fully support a presidential candidate that vowed to press for a law requiring Congressional approval WITH a tax levy covering the full costs, including ongoing medical treatment, for any and all military conflicts. I bet most war hawks would sing a different tune if they had to put their money where their mouths are.
Saturday, August 22 Report this
namrogm
Great points, Richard. What military service does to some young people can be a major cause of a depressing and painful life later.
Tuesday, August 25 Report this